April 23, 2019 Preschool Steam - Physics is Fun Lesson 6: Spinning

Our last class introduced children to the physics behind spinning.  Students experimented with a variety of items to see which ones would spin and on what surfaces.  They learned about torque, centripetal force, and gravity as they watched a cup of water being swung overhead without spilling.  Then they demonstrated these same forces by spinning a marble, a penny and a hex nut inside a balloon.  Finally they experimented with things that fly when spun:  hand helicopters and rip cord propellers.  Physics is fun!  Pictures are below.  Enjoy!